Liquid level indicator



NOV. 3, 1931. LUNDQUls-r 1,830,473

LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Filed DGO. 6' 1922 'I LJ Patented Nov. 3, y1931UNl'ri-:Dfsraritsv lenire PATENT oFFicE HANS LUNDQUIST, F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES SE'ECIALTY CORPORATION, 0F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF` ILLINOIS LIQUID LEVEL ynvnlrcnronApplcationled December@ 1922. Serial No. 605,236,

This invention relates broadlyto indicators, and more especiallypertains to such `indicators as are adapted tol give a visual indicationof liquid level in a tank or the like,

'ly at a point, for convenience, usuallypremote terized by theembodiment therein of y proved float actuated mechanism; the provisionof an improved form of indicating device; the provision of an improvedkmotion transmitting element: the provision of an improved combinedfloat actuated mechanism. motion transmitting element, and indicatingdevice; the provision of liquid level' indicating apparatuscharacterized by the embodiment therein-of improved adjusting means; theprovision, in combination With a motion imparting element, and anindicator, of an improved adjustable motion transmitting means; theprovision of an improved motion transmittingr element lcharacter-ized bythe feature of lineal adjustabilityv vvith-V out` disconnection from theelements to which it is attached; Ithe provision, in combination With anindicator and improved motion imparting means, of an improved flexibleand lineally adjustable motion transmitting element; and the provision,in combination, an

Y improved indicator, an improved liquid levelV actuated element, and animproved flexible motion transmitting element, all characterized by thefeatures of facile adjustability before and when installed, durability,simplicity, accuracy, and such devicebeing so constructed to facilitateassembly and installation.

More specifically, ther characterized. by the provision of an improvediioat or liquid actuated mechaadvantages l this invention isfur-v nism,which may be readily applied to any liquid-'container or tank withlittle or no alterations, and the provision of an improved flexiblecable for transmittingA motion VWherein'the cable isv constantlymaintained under tension'so that a break in the cable I'ill give anindication to the observerv of the indicatonand provision of an improvedrevolving indicator. j

' The foregoing and such other objects and advantages as may appear orbe pointed out as this description proceeds are attained in onestructural embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, inwhich:`

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of the device of thisinvention; j

Figure 2 is a longitudinal axialfsectionalv view of the indicator, takenon line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by. thearrows; l u Figure 3 isl a transverse sectional vieW taken on line 3-3of Figure 2,1ooking in the direction'indicatedby the arrows; f i jFigure l is an end elevational view ofthe indicator; i y

Figure 5 is a 4horizontal sectional vievv takenl on line 5-5 of Figure1, looking in the direction indicated'by the arrows; y 1

y'Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on linev 6 6of Figure 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrovvs; and Fig.7 is an elevational vieWof a detail. Referring more vparticularly to thedrawings, the 'device of this p invention conveniently 'comprisesgenerally, the indicating element 5, including a casing 6, the motiontrans-v mitting element conveniently a flexible cable, and themotionimparting or actuatingr element, which in this instance is adaptedfor movement in response to changes in liquid level in a tank 8, andsaid actuatingmeans conveniently comprising generally the float 9,.support 10, and gearing 11.

The indicator comprises a supporting plate l'lixedly secured near theouter ,end of the casing 6, saidplate having ya properly calibratedsemi-circular scale 13 on its outer surf face. A transparent plate 14covers the plate 12 and is in spaced relation thereto,lsecured inposition on the casing 6 by the provision les of an annulus 15, whichlatter is conveniently threaded to the Wall of the casing.

An indicating' arm 16 is Xedly mounted on a revoluble shaft 17 Whichprojects through the plate 12 and is journaled at one endin a bracket18, lixedly securedu to'the.- plate `12, said arnnl having-it's-freeendmoving across the scale 13.

The shaft 17 forms the reduced extension of a'lshaft 19, Which-latteris' arrangeda'xially" Vof the casing, said shaft' 19- havingits innernend pointed as at 2O to seat in a complemental recess provided in a setscrew 21, which latter is threaded into a transverseshoulderr22ca-rriedby the frame 23, saidirame 23 being riveted on4 otherwise.: fixe dlysecured at124eto; tirez inner surface of; the plate 12. Arcoiled/spring251 surrounds the shaft 19; one: endf. ofsaid: coiledepring` beingiixedly connectedy :1t-,26; tor

m one -s-ideoftheframe 23,4andrthe 'otherendzoi' saidcoiledasprfingbeing iixedly connecte'dxat 27 tol the shaft', 19.'`

A drum i 28rl `iixedly secured". to `the, shaft, 19, or may beintegrally. formed therewith and tosaidclrumtliere issecuredionefendofa' shortpiece; of. cablex29,- SaidV cable. being; partly; Wound.`around: the drum: 28.-

Tlieshorty piecef of: cable 29 i's traine dfn over sheaves'3`() and" 31Yjournaledon shaftspsupe ported bv-thefsides'of.therame 23; the'finnerand is: provided with. an; opening 38? ferre-u ceivinrrf the: casing; and= again st thef 'margini of Which-7 op ening; the Yilanged:ringrlltengages. Thus :thefbnacket' 34a coope-ratesrwitlr the' ring moxedlvsecuref the inzdic atorl-inrthedashf.`

ThetubefBereceivesxan'rinternallvrthreaded sleeve39-whi eh is externallylrnurledfor comY venience in adiustingsame..saidssleevereceiv infnafthreaded; nippler40 fwhichiisiiixedly. cloni-1 nectedtoaiiexiblelcoiledwire' conduitor cas# isfiredlvseicured at itsotherendibv soldering or thealileto af partI of theractuatingj deviceYas Will presentlv appeam The cablesf7 and? 29 are -connectedbyat link.42, asgbestY seem in l Figure .2,.and- WhielnlinlP lifesimtheltubef 33.

A2 .-lmurlled; nut 41a` serves to; lock-1 the sleeve 'subsequent' toadinetment, said? knmflednuti bein g th'reznled on saidnipple'40-,andfabuttingr tl1e-sleeve to'prevent'itsrota-tion whenneces.- sary, said eonduit'4-1. being, ofA coursegfn'ons rotatable.yAdjustment is made by loosening Y out,. includes a float and asupporting means therefor, whereby the float may be properly disposedWithina containerA of` liquid` such asthe gasoleneV tankl.VConveniently, the actuatingy mechanism comprises a bearing portion 43,ii'Xedly secured to a closure plate 44Whieh latterisprovided on itsunder face with a-plate 45 having dovvnturned tongues 46,-. which;engage inn coinplementalL recesses 47 ini an inwardlydirected: annular.:flange; 48=rfrmed integrallywith. the upstanding;v coll'ar'49,Whichflatter with saidgflangefiorm they iillingfopening;` 50; oiiAtheatanl. 8f. rEhel supporting bracket 10 is-fixedlysecured ati 5l?. towtlief'p'lates 45: andi the lower4 end of 'said bracket. or; support-1()x is? bent laterallyiat- 52A to formaa@ lower: bearing' `JEoravertical shaft' 53, Whichl lat-'tenis revol'ubly niounteda inf` abearingopeningf 5.4.-provided.infthe'bear iner 43, as best shown inFigure 6;,

The-lower end orthef shaft 53.`V` carries a bevel? 55, which;lattenmeshes with a@ compiementalgear 56: revolublv mounted oni a.4s-lrafltA 57', carriedI on-a depending,-extension' Sioi' thea-bracket10.5v The-float 9-isfca'rried' by. anfl arm? 59;. which latterextends`radially trom the gear: 56;. ,The'foat-i9de-preferably elongated andat.- about itsmeclialportion- .connected to they end of theV arm59'y bya.y

swivel jointl 60, so` that the-oat may more; readily assume -a fsubstantially; horizont-al; positi'onrin theliquid contents ot theitankthat4 is, iloat evenly in the liquid regardless of. singularity-of; the:arm 59'. f

i 'Phew closurefplate: 44e issecured oni the collan 49;-by-theprovisionof az clamping ringf 61.. and a suitable packing 62` i's interposed:

vents; upward displacement oi the sha-H1153 and consequent disconnectionofth'e 'raclrnmd'L piniona. i t

The bearing 6.6flisfprovided Withz al com:

'plemental' top portion 69. secured thereonl by-y the provision of bolt'70,2 passinggthrou'gh complemental lugs formed on the hea-ring; and onthektop portion 69.t

The racl: bar is connected at 71 tothead`A jacent. 'endf ofv the cable.7 by: soldering or the like, andgtheiexiblefconduit 41 is'fixedlj,"connected?. to.:1 ae tube Z2., which. latter; is: prio:`

vided with an annular liange 73 which seats in complemental recessesformed in the bearing 66 and the top member 69, thus holding the conduit4l iiXedly with relationto the actuating device and preventing anybinding or other interference with the proper rectilinear movement oi'the cable.

The rack bar 64 is furthermore guided by the provision of a lug74 whichenters a groove formed in the top plate 69, as best seen in Figure 6.

It will be observed that in operation the rise and fall of the float inthe tank 8 will impart rotation to the shaft 53 through the gearing 11`and by virtue of such rotation cause a reciprocation oi the rack bar 64,which in turn exerts a pull or slacks away on the cable 7, thusimparting partial rotation to the drum 28 and a consequent disnlacementof the indicating arm 16 on t-he scare.

It will be observed that the cable, due to the provision of the coilspring 25, is always maintained under tension, that is, the cable 7 isnever slack, regardless of the position of the oat or other elements,and the only time that the cable will be slack is in the event that somepart of the device becomes broken.k For instance, should the cableitself part` then the coil spring will return the arm 16 to Zero andthus the observer will be apprised that either the tank is empty or thatsomething is wrong with the'apparatus. It will be observed, that themember i9 and its connection with the casing 4l and the connection ofthe latter to the tank is such that the apparatus is air-tight.Furthermore, the communicating' means including the casing 4l betweenthe indicator and the tank is susceptible of adjustment in length.

When rst installing this device it is. of course, necessary that theindicator on the dash give the proper indication as to the level of theliquid in the tank 8, and in order to aiiord a convenient adjustment ofthe parts to the end that an accurate indication may always be hadthereafter', the sleeve 39 may be rotated so as to vary the distance asmeasured by the conduit 41 between the actuating device and theindicator, and as it is preferable that this means be disposed where oneinstalling the device may observe the indicator, I have shown theadiusting means ask adjacent to the indicator. The facility with whichthis device maybe installed. its usefulness, and the convenience withwhich adjustments may be made, will be readily appreciated bv thoseskilled in the art. It will be observed that the tank 8 may readily befilled by removing the actuating device in its entirety and it will alsobe observed that this removal may be done Without` disturbing theaccurate setting ofthe device.

I reserve the right to make obvious necesconduit enclosing said cable,and means for y adjusting said conduit comprising a rotatable sleeve,nipples having threaded engagement with and extending from opposite endsof v said sleeve and a lock nut on one of said nipples adapted to abutthe end of said sleeve, said nipples beingL i'ixedly connected,respectively, to the indicator and conduit.

2. yIn combination with an indicator, a float mechanism, and anactuating cable connecting Said float mechanism and indicator, of

a conduit enclosing said cable, and means for adjusting said conduitcomprising a rotatable sleeve, nipples carried, respectively, by theindicator andthe conduit, said nipples beingL in. threaded engagementwith said sleeve, and

a lock nut on one of said nipples abutting said` sleeve to maintain thelatter in an adJusted position.

3. In combination with an indicator, an actuating mechanism, and a cableconnecting said actuating mechanism and indicator, of a conduitenclosing said cable, and means for adjusting said conduit comprising arotatable sleeve, nipples carried respectively by the indicator andconduit,`said nipples being in threaded engagement with said sleeve, anda lock nut on one of said nipples abutting said sleeve to maintain thelatter in an adjusted position. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature at 36 W. Randolph St.,Chicago, Illinois.

HANS LUNDQUIST.

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